At Paradigm, we are champions of adults and children, and the public sector professionals who support them. We know how important it is to encourage self-reflection and ongoing development.

For social workers, professional development is not just an administrative necessity but a cornerstone of social work practice. By including mandatory CPD and peer reviews in their registration process, Social Work England recognises that quality learning is good for critical thinking, boosting self-esteem, and fostering collective progress.

However, for many social workers, there is real value in the opportunity to pause from the daily grind and truly contemplate work rather than just deliver.

Diverse CPD opportunities

Social workers have access to an array of CPD opportunities. These range from formal seminars, courses, and conferences—many of which have transitioned online during the Covid period—to less structured forms of learning. Acknowledging that learning is not confined to a classroom, Social Work England welcomes examples such as productive meetings, insightful videos, or reflections on handling workplace situations.

“On the Social Work England online account I tend to use the unstructured form, as I prefer to have a free text box. However, I do use the questions and sections from the structured forms as prompts, to support my thinking and to help me organise my reflections.” – Carmen Colomina Perez-Herrera

Beyond bureaucracy

We understand the idea of filling in another form and managing another web account might not be a popular one, but, this is about the continual nature of professional development. While you will need to document your learning, viewing it as a process integral to good practice will help consolidate the rich advantages of CPD.

Tip: Allocate time for CPD throughout the year and document it while it’s fresh.

Navigating the Process

Not all social workers may find recording CPD straightforward on the Social Work England website. In response, the regulator provides an online account guide and website support designed to assist in overcoming technical challenges. There is also guidance on documenting your learning available in the ‘how to record CPD’ section of the Social Work England website. Social Work England is committed to continually improving on-screen advice and site functionality to minimise errors and enhance user experience.

Guidance for a seamless experience

Feeling nervous about recording CPD? Here’s some practical advice:

• Allocate time for CPD throughout the year and document it while it’s still fresh.
• Summarise your CPD in a document such as Word and save it regularly to safeguard your work.
• Access your Social Work England account via Google Chrome for ease and reliability.
• Answer all questions when starting your online record; incomplete answers may hinder submission.
• Stick to prescribed word limits to avoid potential loss of work.
• Ensure anonymisation of all CPD records, refraining from including identifying information about others.
• Don’t forget to submit your record; select ‘Submit CPD’ at the end of the form to complete the process.

The deadline for registration renewal is in November each year, but it’s always advisable to activate your online account promptly. Should you need assistance, your dedicated consultant at Paradigm is ready to help. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.